Love of the Howling Wolf

Ch.2 Intense Training

Aleu's POV 

I walk down the stairs heading to the dining room, mother was already sitting in her chair I look around I didn't see Derek anywhere. I take my seat across from my mother looking at her confused.

" Where's Derek, I mean dad."

" Oh, you're calling him dad now?"

" Yes."

" What made you change your mind?"

" He's letting me become an ancient warrior."

" Is he now?"

" Yes, this is it, I can finally help protect the towns people."

" I hope you know what you're doing Aleu."

Just then Derek and Griffin walk into the dining room Derek has a wicked smile on his face.

" Aleu, this is Griffin he's going to be your personal trainer."

Griffin looks at me with a stern look.

" The ancient warriors need to focus on their training, they don't need to be distracted by you get changed and meet me out back, your training starts now."

I get up from my chair heading to my room changing into more suitable attire and head to the back I see Griffin standing by the fountain. 

" I want to thank you for training me to-."

" No, I don't want to hear any of that do you understand me? Just because you're the Princess doesn't mean I'm going to make this training easy on you got it. I will push you every day until you break like I said I won't go easy on you."

I stare at Griffin dumbstruck, from his tone I know he means business, training is going to be intense. All day Griffin yells commands telling me to do this, do that etc. I'm covered in sweat from head to toe my whole body feels like Jell-O, I stop to catch my breath I hear Griffin coming over to me.

" Did I tell you to stop?"

" No, I just need to catch my breath."

" Catch your breath? If this was a battle, you'd be dead by now the ancient warriors wouldn't stop to catch their breaths now, would they, they'd be fighting off the evil they wouldn't stop until the last one is destroyed. Now pick up the pace and no stopping until I say so."

From the window Derek watches Aleu as she trains, he looks over at Griffin who keeps barking orders to her he can't help but smirk. Mira walks up to him and looks out the window.

" How's she doing?"

" Struggling, soon before we know it, she'll be crawling right through our door telling us that it was a mistake for her to become an ancient warrior and then she'll be more focused on being a Princess."

" What if she doesn't break, Aleu's a tough girl Derek."

" We all have our breaking points Mira."

Hours later the sun begins to set Griffin walks over to me he looks down at me smirking.

" You did well today, but tomorrow will be even more intense I hope you're ready for training tomorrow. You are dismissed."

Griffin turns on his heel and walks away I fall to the ground breathing hard I ball my fists; I won't let Griffin break me, I will be the best ancient warrior there ever was I won't give up on my dream if he wants to train me this hard, then I'll push myself even harder to become stronger. I glance up spotting Derek looking at me I have a feeling he's behind this intense training. If this is his way of making want to quit, he is so wrong. I get up and head inside I see my mother standing by the doorway.

" How was training?"

" It was intense."

" I see, is Griffin a good trainer?"

" Yes, he is."

" I'm glad to hear that honey."

I make my way to the staircase I turn giving my mother a cold look.

" I know what you and Derek are doing."

" I don't know what you're talking about Aleu."

" If this is your way of making me want to give up becoming an ancient warrior, you're so wrong. I'll show you that I can do this."

I head up to my chambers I take a seat in the chair I look at myself in the mirror the girl I see is a determined warrior ready to chase her dreams and never give up. 

Meanwhile at the ancient warrior's temple the warriors are finishing up their training, their new leader Pardolis looks at the ancient warriors nodding in approval.

" Warriors that's enough training for today, well done all of you."

" Thank you Pardolis."

" You are dismissed."

" Hey Merrick, wait up."

" Hey Drew, what's up?"

" Did you hear."

" Hear what?"

" It's the Princess, she's training to be an ancient warrior."

" Really? How come she isn't training with us then?"

" You know how King Derek is."

" True, I wonder what kind of training he's putting her through."

" Who knows."

" I have to get going, my sister's waiting on me."

" Right, I'll see you tomorrow."

" See you tomorrow."

Merrick begins to walk home he stops at a produce stand picking up some food after he makes his purchase he heads for home. Before he steps through the door Merrick takes a look at the castle he lets out a sigh and walks in

"Morgan I'm home."

" How was training?"

" Great, like usual."

" I hear you have a new leader."

" We do, he's great."

" So, word is that Princess Aleu is training to be an ancient warrior as well."

" Wait how did you know she's training to become an ancient warrior?"

" News spreads like wildfire."

" Yeah, she is, but she isn't training with us."

" What do you mean?"

" She has her own personal trainer."

" Poor girl, I bet her trainer isn't going easy on her."

" Speaking of training, how's yours coming along?"

" It's alright, still need more practice of course."

" Hey why don't you come with me tomorrow to the ancient warrior's temple I'll introduce you to the guys."

" Really?"

" Yeah of course."

" Yes, thank you Merrick, you're the best!"

" I know you've been training your hardest and I think it's time."

Morgan gives her brother a big hug, she can't help but jump up and down with joy Merrick lets out a small laugh seeing his sister this excited. 

Back at the castle Mira, Derek, and Aleu sit in silence as they eat Mira glances at Derek then to Aleu. She motions Derek to say something to Aleu he gives Mira nod then looks over at Aleu.

" How did training go today Aleu?"

I don't say a word I just Iook down at my food I don't want to talk to my mother, or Derek I can feel the anger begin to boil inside of me. I can feel my mother's eyes on me. 

" Aleu, say something please, we just want to know how training went."|

I glance up at my mother giving her a look.

" You already know how it went mother."

" That's no way to talk to your mother."

I slam my fists on the table causing her to jump I glare daggers at her and Derek.

" I know what you two are doing, having Griffin train me that hard you want me to quit don't you, well I hate to break it to you but I'm not quitting go ahead tell Griffin to train me to the extreme, I'm not giving up I'm sorry for not being your perfect little Princess like you want me to, but times are changing and so am I."

I get up from the table storming out of the dining hall, I leave the castle and head to the river I see Animus he looks down at me as I approach him.

" What's the matter my child?"

" It's my parents Animus they want to see me fail at becoming an ancient warrior."

" Why's that?"

" They want me to be the perfect little Princess they've always wanted."

" I see."

" I wish they'd understand that this is my life, I don't want to be the perfect little Princess, they want me to be. I want to be myself; I want to help people not rule over them I just want to be someone who's always there to help."

" You have a good heart Aleu, always follow it the choices you make determines who you are always listen to you heart and you'll do what's right."

" Thanks Animus, for your words of wisdom."

" Anytime."

I leave the river I take a short stroll through the forest to get my mind off things, just then the wind changes I stop in my tracks and look around a chill goes down my spine I head back to the castle, I see Derek standing at the bottom of the staircase, I prepare myself for what's to come.

" What are you trying to prove here Aleu? That a girl can become an ancient warrior, trying to show off, trying to be something you can never be? What are you trying to prove?"

" I'm doing this for me, I'm doing this to prove you wrong that I will become an ancient warrior just like my grandfather."

" Animus was a fool! Trying to take on a Duke Org by himself he died protecting the ones he loved do you really want that? Do you really want to sacrifice yourself for someone you love? Do you really want to die for them?"

" Yes, I would sacrifice myself to protect the ones I love, I would do it again and again if I could and don't you dare speak about Animus like that, he was a hero if it wasn't for him, you wouldn't even be King or apart of this family."

Derek backhands me across the cheek I stumble backwards, I slowly turn my head glaring at him. 

" Hit me all you want Derek, but nothing is going to stop me from following my dreams, this is my life not yours I'm going to live my life how I want it to be."

I shove past Derek going to my chambers, I lock the door behind me I make my way to the window and look out I see the ancient warriors training, how graceful they look when they practice, I take a closer look and notice a young girl with one of the ancient warriors he's introducing her to the others a smile comes upon my face it seems I'm not the only one who wants to become an ancient warrior I nod my head in approval.

" You've got this."

As I'm watching one of the ancient warrior's hands her his weapon the other ancient warriors begin to circle her, they begin to fight I watch as she manages to knock the ancient warriors down their leader nods in approval. The leader says something to the warriors they nod and leave, he then turns to the young girl giving her a nod of approval, I can't help but smile.

" Way to go, wait until mother and Derek hear about this."

Later that night a ceremony is held for Morgan Baliton, after becoming an ancient warrior the towns people gather around watching as she takes her vows dedicating her life to protect the townspeople. Mira and Derek give each other a look, Derek balls his fists in anger. After the ceremony Derek storms up to Aleu's chambers, pounding his fist on the door. 

" Aleu open the door now!"

I unlock the door looking at Derek with a smirk on my face his face is red with anger.

" How dare you!"

" How dare I what? I've done nothing Derek."

" How dare you put silly thoughts into the minds of young women."

" How dare you accuse me of something I didn't do, she did that herself not me. I haven't even talked to anyone outside the castle walls."

" This stops now, they already have a girl for an ancient warrior stop this now."

" I already told you I'm not giving up, this is my life, my dream, you can't stop me."

 " As your father, I demand you to stop this foolishness."

I grit my teeth and glare daggers at Derek.

" You are not my father, if you were you'd support me no matter what I choice I made. If you want the perfect little Princess have your daughter, do it."

" I will, and she's going to be the perfect Princess there ever was."

Derek turns on his heel leaving my chambers I go to the window looking out to the forest, something is drawing me to go back. Whatever is out there I have to know what it is.